RADIO TELESCOPES

The IRA operates three radio telescope facilities for use by the scientific community: the "Northern Cross Radiotelescope", located in Medicina, and two 32-m single dish antennas located in Medicina and Noto (Sicily). A new 64-m antenna, the SRT (Sardinia Radio Telescope), is under construction in Sardinia (near Cagliari). The antennas are part of the VLBI global network for about 150 days a year.

The IRA is a member of the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe ( JIVE ) and participates in Consortia such as the European VLBI Network ( EVN ) and the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astronomy ( IVS ), as well as in the Committee for Radio Astronomial Frequencies ( CRAF ). The IRA is involved in future astronomical projects like ALMA , e-VLBI , SKA , LOFAR , and is a main partner in the European Framework Programs funded by the European Union in projects like PrepSKA, RadioNet , SKADS, EXPReS and ESTRELA . Also on behalf of INAF the IRA hosts an Alma Regional Center ( ARC).

ASTRONOMICAL PROJECT

1. ๏ Italian SKA web page

2. ๏ Italian ALMA web page

3. ๏ Italian LOFAR web page (Lofar White Paper pdf)